One of the perks of being a retired Westview faculty member, I guess, is unfettered access to all areas of the campus. You’d think that an athlete who’s just set a new team record might be surrounded by teammates and well-wishers, but here’s #31 just sitting alone at his locker, still in uniform, savoring his accomplishment until Bull can manage to make his way down from the cheap seats.

“Have you got any advice for me?” Sure!

“Don’t take up tennis! You’ll need to buy two rackets!”

“Don’t take up jogging! You’ll keep running into Funky and Les!”

“Better get started on the Rogaine, your hairline’s receding almost as much as mine!”

Ugh. I was just thinking that. And to think I had complimented Ayers work on Crankshaft a couple months ago… This week has been an awful parade of muppet rejects smirking. Like that Happy Time Murders movie, but somehow even more comedically bankrupt and offensive.

What in the name of all that’s holy is that on Bull’s face (where a nose should be) in panel 3?! Come on, other art guy- TRY!! What professional would look at that and say: “Oh, yeah! I’m on fire! Beat that, New Guy!”…?!

“Congrats! Now go enjoy your dismal, hopeless, ruined future, you dumb sporto!”…truly words to live by. This light-hearted approach to Bull’s crippling brain disorder is truly baffling and not especially “funny” either. It certainly didn’t start out as a conduit for gags about Bull’s fractured “noggin” but here we are. The CTE story arc was yet another Act III “issue” arc he probably should have shelved in favor of more football camp gags and mascot jokes but as always it’s too late for that now. Sigh.

1) A scene such as this would more likely occur on the sidelines in front of the rest of the team and the fans. It would make a great photo op.

2) If this player just set a new school rushing record, he has apparently been playing for a while. Wouldn’t he have played for Bull? There is no suggestion here they know each other — i.e., Bull calling the kid by his name (that is, provided he has a name, which he apparently doesn’t).

3) In panel one, Bull’s head is either swelling up as a result of his brain injuries or it has broken free of his body and is floating out of the panel towards us.

Still, I guess we should be grateful for this comic. In the old days, experiencing such as complete disconnect from reality required the use of dangerous, mind-altering narcotics that could only be obtained through illicit means. This is much safer, if not as much fun.